We’ve all been there: craving a delicious takeaway but feeling unsure about the price and what goes into it. But what if you could create a vibrant, flavourful, and wonderfully satisfying Homemade Chicken Chow Mein right in your own home, faster than waiting for a delivery driver? It’s entirely possible. We’re excited to share our guide to crafting a restaurant-standard chow mein that’s brimming with fresh, wholesome ingredients. We’re confident this will become a cherished favourite for those busy weeknight dinners.

Our goal isn’t simply to copy a takeaway staple; we want to help you make it even better. We’ll guide you in mastering the perfect sauce—a beautiful harmony of savoury, sweet, and umami flavours. You’ll learn the secret to succulent chicken and vegetables that retain their delightful crunch. Say goodbye to disappointing, oily noodles and hello to a brilliant dish you’ll feel great about making. For those who enjoy swift and tasty Asian-inspired dishes, why not also try our Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing on another occasion?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quicker Than Ordering In: Ready to serve in less than 30 minutes, this dish is the definition of fresh, fast food and an ideal choice for any hectic evening.
• Wonderfully Versatile: You have the creative freedom here. Feel free to toss in your preferred vegetables, switch the chicken for tofu or prawns, or add a bit more chilli heat. Make it truly yours.
• A Healthier Choice: Cooking from scratch means you decide on the levels of oil, salt, and sugar. Our recipe is loaded with crisp vegetables, ensuring a nourishing and well-rounded meal.
• Classic Takeaway Taste: We have carefully balanced the sauce to capture that authentic, delicious flavour you love, using simple ingredients you likely already have.
• Minimal Washing-Up: As a genuine one-pan meal, everything cooks together in the wok. This means you can spend less time cleaning and more time savouring your homemade dish.

Ingredients

• dried medium egg noodles
• chicken breasts
• vegetable oil
• fresh ginger
• spring onions
• light soy sauce
• oyster sauce
• rice vinegar
• sesame oil
• caster sugar
• white pepper

An exceptional chow mein is built upon quality ingredients. The real charm lies in the perfect marriage of a rich, savoury sauce with crisp, fresh stir-fried elements. Here is the list of what you’ll need to bring this dish to life.

• 250g dried medium egg noodles
• 2 large chicken breasts (about 300g), thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for frying
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 large carrot, julienned or cut into fine batons
• 150g beansprouts, washed
• 4 spring onions, sliced into 2-inch lengths
• For the Chow Mein Sauce:
• 3 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• A pinch of white pepper

Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Homemade Chow Mein

The key to any brilliant stir-fry is being organised. The cooking itself happens very quickly, so it’s essential to have everything ready before the heat goes on. Let’s walk through the process.

Step 1: The All-Important Preparation (Mise en Place)

To begin, let’s get all our elements ready. This preparation is key to a seamless and quick cooking experience.

1. Prepare the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the sliced chicken with 1 tbsp of cornflour and 1 tbsp of vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly until every piece is coated. This process, often called “velveting,” is our secret to ensuring the chicken stays beautifully moist and tender when cooked. Set the bowl to one side.
2. Mix the Sauce: Take a small bowl or jug and whisk all the sauce components together—the light soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, caster sugar, and white pepper. Set this aside as well.
3. Cook the Noodles: In a large saucepan, bring water to a rolling boil. Add the egg noodles and cook as directed on the package, typically for 4–6 minutes. We’re aiming for ‘al dente’ (still slightly firm), because they will continue to cook in the wok. Once done, drain the noodles and immediately rinse them with cold water to halt the cooking and keep them from clumping together.
4. Chop the Vegetables: Ensure your onion, garlic, ginger, carrot, beansprouts, and spring onions are all chopped, minced, and ready to go in individual containers.

Step 2: Searing the Chicken

With our preparation complete, we can begin cooking. Starting with the chicken helps to create a delicious foundation of flavour in the wok.

1. Place a large wok or a frying pan over a high flame and let it get smoking hot. Pour in a tablespoon of vegetable oil.
2. Gently lay the coated chicken pieces in the pan, ensuring they form a single layer. It’s important not to overcrowd the wok, so work in two batches if you need to.
3. Stir-fry for about 3–4 minutes, until the chicken achieves a lovely golden-brown colour and is cooked all the way through. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.

Step 3: Building the Stir-Fried Noodles with Chicken

Now for the exciting, high-speed finale where all the elements combine to make our fantastic Stir-fried noodles with chicken.

1. If the wok looks dry, add another splash of oil. Add the sliced onion and carrot batons, stir-frying for 2 minutes until they just start to become tender. A high temperature is vital for getting that authentic ‘wok hei’ or stir-fry aroma. For more on this, BBC Good Food offers an excellent guide on perfecting your stir-fry.
2. Toss in the minced garlic and grated ginger, continuing to stir-fry for 30 seconds more until their wonderful aroma is released. Keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
3. Return the cooked chicken to the wok along with the cooked noodles and beansprouts. Drizzle the prepared chow mein sauce over everything.
4. With a pair of tongs or two large spoons, keep everything moving, tossing it all together for 2–3 minutes. You’re looking for the noodles to be thoroughly heated and every ingredient to be beautifully coated in the shiny sauce.
5. As the very last step, add the sliced spring onions, give it a final, quick toss to combine, and take the wok off the heat.

Tips for Success and Customisations

Are you ready to elevate your Homemade chow mein? We’ve gathered some expert advice and simple modifications for you to experiment with.

• Avoid Overloading the Wok: Putting too much in the pan at one time causes the temperature to fall, resulting in steamed ingredients rather than perfectly fried ones. If your wok is on the smaller side, it’s best to cook in stages.
• Ensure the Pan is Extremely Hot: A searingly hot pan is non-negotiable for achieving a fantastic char on the chicken and vegetables, which seals in their flavour and maintains a great texture.
• Experiment with Vegetables: This dish provides a brilliant opportunity to clear out the vegetable drawer. Sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, snow peas, or bok choy all make wonderful additions. Simply add them at the same time as the carrots.
• Vary the Protein: If chicken isn’t what you fancy, this versatile Chinese noodle dish is equally delicious with strips of beef sirloin, juicy king prawns, or cubes of firm tofu for a satisfying vegetarian meal.

Creating a Healthy Chicken Chow Mein

A huge advantage of home cooking is the power to craft a Healthy Chicken Chow Mein that doesn’t compromise on taste. With a few minor adjustments, you can produce a meal that is as nutritious as it is delightful.

• Opt for Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: This simple switch dramatically lowers the salt levels while retaining that essential savoury depth.
• Pack in More Vegetables: Be generous with the veg! Consider doubling the carrots and beansprouts, or add leafy greens like spinach to increase the fibre and nutrients.
• Choose Lean Protein: Skinless chicken breast is an excellent choice as it provides high-quality protein with minimal fat.
• Be Mindful of Oil: A non-stick wok is your friend here, allowing you to use just a small amount of oil. A light cooking spray is another great option to minimise oil usage.

While this dish is wonderfully satisfying on its own, it pairs beautifully with the clean, sharp flavours of a salad, such as this Tangy and Refreshing Green Papaya Salad Recipe (Som Tam), for a lovely contrast.

FAQ

Your New Favourite Easy Asian Dinner

And there you have it: our comprehensive guide to creating a spectacular homemade chicken chow mein that is every bit as good as, if not better than, your local takeaway. This recipe is the ultimate easy Asian dinner, delivering on speed, taste, and freshness for a wonderfully complete meal.

Following our straightforward method, you’ll be able to confidently produce a meal that’s not only packed with authentic flavour but also easily adaptable and far healthier. There is a special kind of satisfaction that comes from creating such a dynamic and delicious dish from scratch.

So, when you next feel the urge for a classic Chinese noodle dish, we encourage you to bypass the delivery apps and step into your kitchen instead. We are certain you will be delighted with the results. We invite you to try this recipe and let us know all about your culinary success in the comments section!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 250g dried medium egg noodles
• 2 large chicken breasts (about 300g), thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra for frying
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• 1 large carrot, julienned
• 150g beansprouts, washed
• 4 spring onions, sliced into 2-inch lengths
• For the Chow Mein Sauce:
• 3 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• A pinch of white pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare Ingredients: In a bowl, coat the sliced chicken with cornflour and 1 tbsp of oil; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients: light soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, caster sugar, and white pepper. Cook the egg noodles according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
2. Cook the Chicken: Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat until very hot. Add a tablespoon of oil, then add the chicken in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the wok and set it on a plate.
3. Stir-fry the Vegetables: Add another splash of oil to the hot wok if needed. Add the sliced onion and carrots and stir-fry for 2 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger and stir-fry for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Combine and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the wok along with the cooked noodles and beansprouts. Pour the prepared sauce over everything. Using tongs, toss everything together continuously for 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through and all ingredients are well-coated in the glossy sauce.
5. Finish and Serve: Add the sliced spring onions to the wok, give everything one final toss to combine, and remove from the heat. Serve your homemade chicken chow mein immediately.

Nutrition: Nutritional information is not available for this recipe.